A Manga Guide to the Beautiful Roofs in Japanese Architecture
One of the most distinctive features of Japanese architecture is the magnificent roofs. When you see Japanese temples and shrines such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Sensoji Temple, and Meiji Jingu Shrine, you will definitely notice the grand roof first. This article will introduce these charming roofs in detail!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
* We were given permission to share this manga by Manga de Japan. More details about them below.
The Different Types of Roofs, Explained
The various roofs in Japanese architecture look similar at first glance, but they can actually be distinguished into three categories: kirizuma-zukuri (gable roof), yosemune-zukuri (hip roof), and irimoya-zukuri (hip-and-gable roof).
Of course, Japanese-style roofs are not only designed to look good. Compared with brick and stone buildings in Europe and America, these types of roofs also play an important role in protecting wood buildings and earthen walls from Japan's rainy climate.
A Closer Look at Roof Tiles
Tiled roofs are not only common in Japan, but also in China, Europe, and America. The birthplace of the roof tile is unknown, and the oldest tile that can be identified nowadays is a 3,000-year-old tile unearthed in China.
During the Asuka period (528-710), four "roof tile experts" came to Japan from Baekje (one of the former three kingdoms of Korea) to present tiles, and there began the history of the Japanese tile, or "wagata-kawara." Japanese roof tiles can be divided into two categories, sangawara and yakugawara, according to their function.
Sangawara
Sangawara are ordinary tiles that are arranged neatly along the slope of the roof.
The air layer under the tiles helps with heat and sound insulation, and the tiles themselves protect against water leakage.
Sangawara was previously divided into two types, hira-gawara and maru-gawara, which were often combined together in a technique called "hongawarabuki," but it may be less common now that sangawara (a combination of the two) has become standard.
Yakugawara
Yakugawara is used for roofing special sections. Basically, anything that is not the ordinary wavy hiragawara can be considered yakugawara. There are many kinds of yakugawara.
For example, this is onigawara ("demon-tiling"). When used as a decoration, it is said to have the function of exorcising demons and preventing fires. The mythical "shachihoko" decorated on the roof of the above castle is also a kind of onigawara.
This is noki-gawara ("eaves-tiling"), which serves to drain rain from the roof to the rain gutter. Here, kamon (family crests) can be engraved in the circular parts to indicate the building's ownership.
What do you think? Roofs can be a surprisingly complex topic!
What Is Manga de Japan?
Manga de Japan is a website that aims to promote Japanese culture through manga. It is available in both Japanese and English and provides a truly unique perspective into Japan, so please check it out if you liked this manga and want to read more!
For more details, please see the video below or check out their website here: https://mangadejapan.com/
If you want to give feedback on any of our articles, you have an idea that you'd really like to see come to life, or you just have a question on Japan, hit us up on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
About the author
